Artist: Bob Dylan
Label: Columbia Records
Rating: 5/5
Dylan’s 33rd studio album Together Through Life is a steal – be it a Dylan fan (well, they shouldn’t miss this at all) or someone who has just started listening to him (I wonder if there’s anybody, other than newly born babies).
Released last month on Columbia Records, the album debuted at number one in various countries – both U.S and UK and what makes this one special is that it’s Dylan’s first number one in Britain since New Morning, released way back in 1970. For this piece of magnum opus, Dylan teams up with the with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter.
It’s said that Dylan had produced the record under his pseudonym of ‘Jack Frost’ which he used for his previous two studio albums, Love and Theft and Modern Times.
Bob Dylan, it seems is in a blues mood…. Is he good? Hell Yeah!
The first track ‘Beyond Here Lies Nothin’ may compel you to drop all the things – be it in your hand’s or in your mind. The groove that Dylan’s careless voice builds up is unimaginable. By the time you finish hearing this – damage is already done. For those who missed it, ‘Beyond Here Lies Nothin’ was offered as a single download before the albums release on Dylan’s official page.
The second coming ‘Life is hard’ is a meditative track, perhaps with a retrospective feel. A semi-spoken Dylan convinces that ‘life is hard’ – at the same time, also suggesting that it can also be â€?sung’ despite the trials. Like me, many would find this song to be very short, but sometimes, as they say – ‘less is more’.
The next, ‘My Wife’s Home Town’ is written by Willie Dixon, Dylan and Hunter. The song reminds of the great Muddy waters. In one word, the song proclaims ‘calming conflict’ – though this expression may not be easily understood (only heard), it’s because of the dashed-off lyrics. The next track, ‘If you ever go to Houston, you better walk right’ is a song you’d just want to shake your head along. Like most Dylan albums, in Together Through Life, Dylan adapts lyrics from other songs. It’s said the phrase “If you ever go to Houston, you better walk right” is taken from the folk song ‘Midnight Special. ‘Forgetful Heart is one of the best from the album. The song is build on a classic blues progression (if you’ve heard B.B Kings ‘Thrill is Gone). On this one, Dylan sounds ‘nasty’, he surely not singing the blues but talking them out.
‘Jolene’ and Shake Shake Mama have the good-ol boogie blues element – Dylan pulls them off with gruff energy and more dashed-off lyrics. ‘I Feel a Change Comin’ On’ has some brilliant playing by Los Lobos accordionist David Hidalgo and Petty guitarist Mike Campbell – don’t miss this one!
When it ends good – it’s all good. Now we come to the last track of the album. The track ‘It’s All Good’ is a satirical dig at everything ‘good’ in life – politicians, capitalism, racism, poverty or terrorism (‘buildings are crumbling in the neighborhood – but it’s all good’)
I won’t say Together Through Life is an ‘album’ -its a (flying) disc that takes you across time and space – who wouldn’t want to travel there? After all, the things back here are â€?All Good’
